The 7,500 yuan/ton level became precarious in early trading on July 16. Jiangsu polyester staple fiber spot prices dropped 30 yuan/ton from the previous day, with the mainstream trading range falling to 7,450-7,600 yuan/ton, and individual low-end negotiations even touched around 7,350 yuan/ton. This price move is not an isolated event but a direct reflection of the short-term supply-demand rebalancing in the chemical fiber industry chain.
Background
The price decline occurred in mid-July, during the transition window from the traditional textile off-season to the peak season. Jiangsu, as a major polyester staple fiber production base in China, often sets the price trend for the entire market. From a data perspective, the 30 yuan/ton drop is not drastic, but it pushed spot prices back below the key 7,500 yuan threshold, breaking the relatively stable consolidation pattern of recent weeks.
The appearance of a low-end price of 7,350 yuan/ton suggests that some manufacturers are facing inventory pressure or capital return needs, prompting them to offer discounts to move goods. Public industry data shows that upstream raw materials PTA and MEG also showed weakness during the same period, weakening cost support. This price correction is essentially the result of combined loosening cost support and cautious demand.
Industry Impact
For staple fiber producers, the 7,500 yuan/ton price level means further compression of profit margins. If this price persists, some small and medium-sized capacities may be forced to reduce operating rates or undergo maintenance to alleviate inventory pressure. For downstream yarn and nonwoven fabric factories, weaker staple fiber prices offer a window for phased restocking, but procurement decisions must be cautious—the wide trading range indicates significant market divergence, and bottom-fishing risks cannot be ignored.
From an industry chain transmission perspective, weak staple fiber prices will suppress upstream PTA demand expectations, thereby affecting the PX-naphtha spread. Meanwhile, on the export front, amid exchange rate fluctuations and intensified international competition, the re-establishment of domestic staple fiber price advantages may provide some support for export orders.